Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-06-09
HOUSE-HUNTING.
Com1cal Result of Our Separate
and Joint Expeditions.

at is too bad!' / say, half crying.
We shall have to make another
change"
Making six in five months" says
Jack. 81 wouldn't mind it if we
seemed to better ourselves; but can't
see that we do. If our room is not
dirty, the parlor is. If the other
boarders are not noisy, there is sure to
be a piano next door, or a vocalist OF
French-horn across the street, or a
church bell around the corner, or some
thing equally Objectionable. Here,
where it is clean and quiet, we are
half starved. What do you say to a
flat, Ethelr'
''Oh, not fiat! cry, in horror. 81
saw enough of that at Aunt Mary's.
She had a piano below her which went
all day and half the night, and the
gentleman above her had pleasing
habit of coming home in the small
hours and dancing double-shuffle in
his boots. Then the trouble with
servants. and the way the elevator gets
stuck. and the danger of fire! Oh,
Jack. not a fiat, whatever we do!
never. never could come down one OF
those dreadful fire-escapes on a dark
night"
well, then. what would you think
of house in the country?" says Jack.
"a house in the country!' l cry.
"But do you really mean it? Could we
afford it, Jack?" ... .-
Il really think we might" says Jack,
bordering. ''My salary is to be raised
next month, and take it for all in all, ]
don't believe that q small house in a
country town would cost much more
than our board and washing in the
cits. Only we can't go in for luxuries,
you know, little woman. A small
house and one servant Do you think
you could get along?'
Get along? Oh. Jack!' I cry, sit
would be heaven. To 60 out of this
hot, dirty city that I always did hate,
and to have little house all to our
selves, where can potter about as
much as I like, and perhaps a flower
garden-just little bit of one, Jack
-ohr' gasped for breath, unable to
express the rapture which fills my soul
at the idea.
Jack looks at me, half laughing, half
sad, wholly surprised. 'Why, Ethel,
had no idea you felt like that about
it." he says, kindly. "Why did you
never tell me that you hate the city so
muchP''
..Why should I?'' thought you had
to be here, and -and-I don't hate the
city as much as I love you. Jack. But
you and the country together!" And
again pause, and clasp my hands in
speeches. ecstasy.
So it falls out that one bright day,
Jack having obtained leave of absence
from the office, we start together on a
house-hunting expedition. 1t has tax
en- us long to decide where to fix our
abode, but we have at length settled
upon the town of Medfield as the very
place for us. 1t is healthy it is pretty,
the society is good, and it is near
enough to the city to enable Jack to 60
in and out every day. All things con-
sidered, and of course provided we can
find suitable house, Medfield seems
the very place for us. Jack has pro-
yided himself with lists of houses from
several agents. and we charter a hack
at the station and start upon our ex-
plorations.
Really these house agents appear to
have had most singular ideas. Jack
has carefully told then what we want
"a small house with modern improve
ments, rent not to exceed certain very
modest sum. The first house before
which our hack pauses is an elaborate
affair standing in rather extensive
grounds. 1t has conservat ories, bay
windows, verandas, and all manner
of fanciful decorations.
Jack" I whisper softly, s'however
low the rent may be, this will never do
for us. We should be as hopelessly
lost in it as two mice in dog-kennel. :"
Jack laughs. "You need not trouble
yourself my DEAR" he says. '.We
will take the next house on our list.
The agent has evidently made mis-
take"
The next is small, plain four-room
house. which looks more promising,